Cassidy (Big Sky Dreams 1) (7 page)

"What brings you to town?" Chandler asked.

"Supplies mostly. I'll throw in a visit to Cass and my mother as well."

"How is your mother?" Chandler asked, realizing he'd not inquired in a long time.

"The same. How is yours?"

"Doing all right. Taking things a little slower, but her letters are as sanguine as ever."

Trace had to smile.

"What?" Chandler had caught the look.

"Sanguine. That's an eastern-boy word if I've ever heard one."

Chandler had to laugh. It was true. No one in Token Creek talked the way he did, but that made him unique, and if someone had pressed him, he would have admitted to enjoying that.

"Oh, no," Chandler spoke under his breath, and Trace followed his gaze.

Abi Pfister had stepped inside the door. Chandler watched her, thinking she was back for another interview with him, but her eyes were on the tellers' windows and Mr. Falcone. When she saw that he was busy, she moved on her way.

"What's up with that?" Trace asked.

"She's writing a book on Token Creek and keeps trying to interview Mr. Falcone. She talked to me already, and I didn't appreciate some of the things she said."

"About the bank?"

"No, about Cassie and me."

Trace's brows rose. He knew Chandler could handle himself, but he was a little bit protective of Cassidy.

52"Did Cassidy hear?"

"I don't know. I didn't want to ask her."

"Why was that?"

Chandler hesitated but then admitted, "Abi had heard that Cassidy and I were engaged."

Trace's frown was real when Chandler explained the whole story and realized Abi was just repeating what she'd heard. Cassidy's being engaged to Chandler, or even rumor of it, would not harm either of their reputations, but since it wasn't true, it would only cause awkwardness and possibly hard feelings.

"I'll be headed there." Trace was not one to beat about the bush. "I might ask her if Abi Pfister has been a problem, and I'll probably just tell her what you said."

Chandler nodded. He didn't know why he was willing to let Trace handle this but somehow thought it would be best.

"Well, I'd better keep moving."

"All right. I think we're on for Saturday night this time, aren't we?" Chandler asked, referring to the study with Rylan. "Yes. I'll see you then, Chandler."

"All right, Trace. Thanks for stopping."

Trace didn't waste time but beat a path to Cassidy's. That lady was alone, bent over the sewing machine, and didn't hear him come in. He stood for moment watching her work and then threw his hat on the chair beside her. She didn't start like he thought she would but smiled and spoke without turning from her machine.

"Hello, Trace."

"How did you know that was my hat?" he asked, having been foiled in his joke.

"I'm an observant woman." Cassidy turned with a smile, inviting him to take a seat by moving his hat. "What are you doing in town?"

"Just errands and visiting," Trace said when he was comfortable.

53"You sound like a man of leisure."

"I am when I can be," he said, and Cassidy knew he spoke the truth. During branding and cattle driving, all he did was work. "What are you working on?"

"A shirt for Merle North. It's a nice fabric, isn't it?"

"Very nice." Trace admired it but didn't let his mind lose track of his visit to the bank. "I need to ask you something."

"All right."

"Has Abi Pfister been in?"

"Last week. She was upset when I didn't have time for an interview."

Trace nodded, and Cassidy knew there was more.

"What's wrong?"

"She was spreading rumors she'd heard about you and Chandler. He set her straight, but when he told me, I wanted you to know." "Why didn't Chandler tell me?"

"I think he was afraid of hurting you somehow."

Cassidy looked thoughtful, and Trace watched her.

"What bothers you more," he finally asked, "the rumor or that Chandler didn't tell you?"

"Both. I can understand Chandler was driven by compassion. I don't know what drives Abi Pfister. She's relentless with this book idea of hers. And just exactly what was said?"

"That you and Chandler are engaged."

Cassidy didn't know why the words pained her, but they did. She was glad Trace told her, but it wasn't easy to hear.

"Are you all right?"

Cassidy nodded. "Thanks for telling me."

"You're welcome. You'll be out at the house tomorrow?" "That's the plan."

"All right. I'm headed to see my mother and then home." "Thanks for stopping, Trace."

"Until tomorrow, Miss Norton," Trace said, tipping his hat and

54taking his leave, unaware of the way Cassidy sat thinking until a noise in the street interrupted her.

"I had a scare last week," Meg admitted to Cassidy the following afternoon.

"What happened?"

"Pain. It's not happened since, but for a moment I thought the baby was coming."

"How early would that be?"

"Right now, about six weeks."

"Are you taking things more slowly?"

"A little, but I feel good now and sometimes I forget."

"Well, I'll make dinner tonight, and you can just sit and talk to

me.

"I don't think you need to do that," Meg began to argue, but Cassidy frowned at her and she stopped.

"You've got to take gifts when they're given to you, Meg," Cassidy said in quiet rebuke. "It might be your baby's life we're talking about here."

"You're right, Cass. I'm sorry."

"What are we having?" Cassidy asked, swift to put the incident behind.

"Steaks. The potatoes have to go in pretty soon, and then there's corn to boil."

"I think I can handle that."

"What can't you handle?" Meg teased.

"Abi Pfister," Cassidy surprised Meg by saying.

Meg pulled a face. "Has she been spreading rumors again?" "How did you know?"

"Because that's her way. Did she say something about you?" Cassidy told her the story, but Meg's reaction was much calmer. "You're right. Chandler should have come to you, but as far as Abi

55is concerned, consider the source, Cass. Everyone knows she's a lot of talk."

"Yes, but evidently she heard it from someone else."

"Then Abi's passing it along is just what you need. .No one takes her seriously, and the news will die all the faster."

Cassidy felt herself relax. Thinking about it again had been unsettling. She had wrestled with the gossip long after Trace had left. It had been almost bedtime before she remembered that she was not in control and that God had a handle on things.

"Were you serious about dinner?" Meg asked just then. "Very."

"All right. Let's head out. You've got potatoes to wash."

Cassidy followed her pregnant hostess, thinking that cooking in the spacious ranch kitchen was going to be fun.

"Tell me something," Cassidy said to Trace on the ride home. "What?"

"Why do you take me back to town when the days are long right now?"

"Because the male inhabitants of Token Creek just can't be trusted. It's pretty quiet on Wednesday night, and you're right, it's light at this time of the year, but if something were to go wrong with the wagon or the horse and it got dark out, you'd be in a pretty vulnerable spot."

"And all this time I thought it was my charming company," Cassidy teased him.

"Well, that too," Trace teased right back.

"Oh!" Cassidy remembered. "Don't let me forget to run up and get the fabric I forgot to take earlier. I told Meg I would send it with

you.

"All right. What is Meg making now?"

56"This is for a shirt for Brad. I cut a bit of that bolt I used on Merle North's shirt. I'm pretty sure she'll like it."

"But will Brad?" Trace asked.

"You tell me, since you're two of a kind."

"Brad and I? We're nothing alike."

Cassidy had a good laugh over this, but Trace wasn't done. "Actually we're less alike than you think."

"How so?"

"Lots of ways. He likes his eggs scrambled-I like mine fried." "That's significant," Cassidy said with just the right amount of sarcasm.

"And I like my coffee black," Trace put in, clearly in his element. "Brad will drink it black, but he prefers his with milk or cream." Cassidy had to laugh again.

"On top of that," Trace added, "his favorite book of the Bible is James. Mine is Luke."

"Anything else?" Cassidy asked.

"No," Trace said with outrageous calm. "That about sums it up. You see, we're very different."

Cassidy could not stop smiling at him. Trace looked over, not wanting to smile back but not able to help himself.

"Why is Luke your favorite book?" Cassidy asked.

"Because of the story of Christ's birth-that's my favorite account of it. I also think Doctor Luke just adds aspects that are special all through the book."

"Luke was a doctor?"

"Yes. Chapter four of Colossians talks about Luke the beloved physician."

"How did I miss that?"

"I don't know."

"I'm going to have to read Luke again with that in mind."

"I think you'll like knowing. You and Luke might have had some things in common."

57"Like what?"

"His heart seemed compassionate in his writing. You're a compassionate person, Cass."

"That was a nice thing to say."

"It might have been, but it's also true."

Cassidy,smiled at him and realized they were almost at the livery. Trace took care of the horse and buggy while Cassidy waited for him out front. It was light enough to walk on her own, but it was nice to be seen to her door.

"All set?" she asked.

"Yes, ma'am."

"Thanks for always doing that."

"You're welcome. Don't forget that fabric," Trace remembered to add.

Cassidy ran upstairs to get it as soon as they arrived, and when she handed it to Trace, he fingered it in his free hand.

"It is nice fabric."

Cassidy smiled at him and couldn't resist one more tease. "Let's hope Brad likes it too. We wouldn't want there to be yet
another
thing you're different about."

Trace tried to scowl at her, but his smile peeked through. "Goodnight, Mr. Holden," Cassidy said with evident satisfaction.

"Goodnight, Miss Norton," Trace bid softly, still wanting to laugh.

Cassidy slipped up the stairs and didn't look back. Had she looked, she would have found Trace watching her all the way inside.

58

CASSIDY LOOKED INTO THE FACEof the five-year-old in her lap

and tried not to laugh. Heidi Vick was telling her a story about her new puppy, and some words came easier than others. Her brother, Franklin, caught part of the tale and, being two years older, sat at Cassidy's side to help out.

"He's supposed to sleep outside," Franklin elaborated, "but he cries, so Papa lets him in Heidi's room."

"That's nice for the puppy."

"Buster," Heidi corrected.

"I like that name," Cassidy told her, suddenly realizing how much she wanted children of her own.

"He's going to be big," Franklin added. "Papa says."

"Big as me," Heidi put in.

"That's big," Cassidy said and smiled gently at the little girl. Heidi smiled shyly in response, and Cassidy's heart melted.

"Cassie, did you have some supper?" the children's mother came over to ask.

"I'm getting there, thanks, Miranda. Maybe the kids and I will go together."

Miranda smiled at her children, who clearly liked this idea, and

59without further discussion the four of them headed toward the buffet supper that Jeanette, Heather, and Becky had prepared. Fourteen people had gathered to celebrate Meg Holden's twenty-fourth birthday, and once Brad had prayed for the meal, folks were left to visit or eat as they pleased. Cake and presents were planned for later.

"I'll sit by you, Miss Cassidy," Franklin said when they had their plates.

"Oh, Franklin, I'm glad."

"Me too," Heidi said, her mother carrying her plate.

And the children did sit near her, but they were busy with their food, and the women had a chance to talk.

"How are you feeling?" Cassidy asked Miranda, who was due about a month after Meg.

"I'm still sick in the morning, but that's normal for me." "I thought that just lasted a few weeks or months."

"I think it does for most women. I know Meg felt fine fairly soon."